Rio earth summit

They are not perfect but they lead the world in climate policy. If humanity rescues itself from dangerous – or worse, catastrophic – climate change, it will not be because of the US, or the BRICs (Brazil, Russia, India, China) or CANZ (Canada, Australia, NZ). It will be because of the EU. Before the defining […]

Our 20 years of climate talks – for that is essentially what they are – are strewn with high-sounding phrases: Rio Earth Summit and its Framework Convention, Berlin Mandate, Kyoto Protocol, Buenos Aires Action Plan, Marrakech Accords, New Delhi Work Programme, Bali Action Plan, Copenhagen Accord, Durban Platform, Doha Gateway. There is a chance we […]

The documentation seems the same as 20 years back. But there is an underlying, subliminal change. It is more mellifluous than it was in ’92. It is as if the UN has contracted in a PR firm from across the road in mid-town Manhattan. It’s all about framing, now. So our style evolves, ahead of […]

The NZ election is out of the way and we are all suddenly busy in Wellington setting ourselves up for the 50th Parliament. Asset sales, tax reform, benefits, superannuation, debt, the privacy of a public cup of tea – have riveted us for the past month or so – straight after the rugby. In the […]